SOUTH TOMS RIVER - Police recovered the body of a 51-year-old homeless man from the Toms River near Mathis Plaza Thursday afternoon.

Edward Kosar, who had recently lived in a wooded area near the river, was pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. after the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit brought him to shore, according to a prepared statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor's office.

A joint search party comprising officers from South Toms River, Toms River, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and state police and firefighters from several local fire departments mustered after a 911 caller reported a man had fallen into the river around 2:38 p.m., the prosecutor's office said.

The search party found Kosar floating face-down. Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy said it was a drone from his department that discovered the victim 12 minutes after it was deployed.

Borough Detective Tim Meier and prosecutor's Detective John Carroll were able to learn Kosar's identity.

Kosar "was reported drinking earlier in the day and observed via surveillance cameras to be stumbling and having trouble walking due to apparent intoxication," according to the announcement. "A witness called 911 after seeing the victim walking near the water's edge and falling into the river."